Bakersfield Car Rental

Guide to Bakersfield

Geography

Bakersfield is the largest city in Kern County in California and is located near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region.

Climate in Bakersfield

Bakersfield has very hot and dry summers and mild winters. Rainfall is sparse and mostly occurs in the winter. As such, Bakersfield is a year-round destination.

Things To Do in Bakersfield

Visit Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace

Named after the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame musician who lived in Bakersfield, the Crystal Palace is one of Bakersfield’s most popular tourist attractions. It is a museum, nightclub, and restaurant all rolled into one. In addition to classic country music and line dance performances, you’ll also find memorabilia from Owen’s life and career showing the ascent of Bakersfield Sound.

Catch a show at the historic Fox Theater

Famous for its superior acoustics and magnificent interiors, Fox Theater was originally a movie theatre featuring some of the first ‘talkies’ (one of the earliest kinds of films with soundtracks), however, it today hosts amazing musical concerts and theatrical performances from the Bakersfield Orchestra, Bay Pointe Ballet and Kern Dance Alliance.

Stroll through Hart Memorial Park

Built in 1929, this 370-acre park is a hidden treasure in northeast Bakersfield. It boasts two two fishing lakes, flocks of beautiful peacocks, and two-disc golf courses, including a difficult 18 holes course that covers Sharktooth Hill nearby.

Eating Out in Bakersfield

Luigi’s Restaurant and Delicatessen is a 100-year-old, family-run, charming Italian joint known for their authentic antipastos, pasta, and sandwiches. Do not miss Noriega’s, the oldest representative of Basque culture in Bakersfield. They have maintained the same traditional recipes since they opened in 1940. The James Beard Foundation awarded the America’s Classic Award to Noriega’s, so you know it’s the real deal.

Eureka is another consistent favorite specializing in gourmet burgers like Jalapeno Burger or Bison Burger.

Bakersfield Transport

Airports

Bakersfield is serviced by Meadows Field Airport (BFL).

Getting around Bakersfield

Rail passenger service is operated by Amtrak and bus services are provided by Golden Empire. Kern Transit also connects Bakersfield with other places in Kern County.

Driving in Bakersfield

The city has an extensive highway network that includes three freeways. However mass transit options are few so it is advisable to drive your own car or rent one. The most popular car rental agencies in Bakersfield are Budget and Enterprise.